Political Science Mid-Term Flashcards
Politics
Activity by which rival claims are settled by public authorities (managing, deciding who has access to resources, & values)
Politics is an Activity About (4)
- Conflict (disagreements)
- Values (interests)
- Decision-making (resolution)
- Resources
Examples of Conflicts over Values (3)
- Abortion
- Euthanasia
- Marriage Equality
Examples of Resolutions for Conflicts over Values (4)
- Negotiation
- Law suits
- Education
- Cultural & generation changes
Power (3)
- Central concept of politics
- From Latin verb - Potere “to be able”
- Can not be studied in isolation from legitimacy & authority
Legitimacy
Occurs when citizens accept the right of governments to make decisions for them
Authority
Ability of a governing body to exercise power without resorting to violence
High Levels of Legitimacy =
High Levels of Authority
Variants of Power
Influence Coercion
Influence (Soft Power) (5)
- Diplomacy
- Persuasion
- Argument
- Knowledge
- Beauty
Coercion (Hard Power) (5)
- Verbal threat
- Weapons
- Blackmail
- Extortion
- Physical size
The State
Set of institutions that successfully uphold claims to the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force in the enforcement of its order within a given territorial area
Concept of State
Linked to “sovereignty” which is right of the State to exercise political power over a group of people & geographical area
Pluralism (State)
Sees the State as an entity where competing interests are diverse; more than one center of power
Feminism (State)
Sees State as an entity of institutionalized male dominance
Post Modernism (State)
Sees States as an oppressive institution
Key Characteristics of State (3)
- Possesses the means of violence & coercion against it citizens
- Controls a geographically defined territory in which society is contained
- Monopolized rule-making in its territory
What Makes up the State (6)
- Population with national consciousness
- An army to defend borders
- Currency & monetary policy
- A political system, government, & laws
- Diplomatic relations, treaties & allies
- Responsibility to its stakeholders (citizens)
Government (4)
- Organization of power within a State (decides how power is divided & used)
- Most important institution in State
- Resolves disputes & conflicts by regulating law & order, private & public affairs
- Can also refer ti those elected to power
Political System
As the legitimate authority, the government exercises power over politics within State
Autocracy
1 person in control
Plutocracy
A few wealthy people in control
Oligarchy
A few powerful people in control
Aristocracy
An elite or hereditary class in control (a few people)
Ochlocracy
The mob or a tyrannical majority in control (many people)
Democracy
The people or reps. who have been given the consent of the people (many people)
Democracy
Greek origins, Demos = people Kratos = rule
Key Characteristics of Democracy (7)
- Government has consent of governed
- Free elections to decide government
- Universal voting rights for adults
- More than one political party
- Majority rule
- Freedom of expression & assembly
- Rule of law
Free Democratic State
Must balance competing pulls between individualism (private interests) & collective interests (public interests)
Constitutions (4)
- Comprehensive rules of State
- Divides powers between institutions & groups
- Sets out how democracy should function
- Establishes authority
Citizens (3)
- Formal members of State
- Eligible to enjoy rights & privileges in society
- Gain citizenship through birth or formal process
Nation (2)
- Politically conscious & mobilized group of citizens
2. Strong attachment to geography, language, culture, identity & self government
Law (3)
- Special body of rules issued by government with backup of police
- Independent (non-political) judiciary in Canada
- Justice system includes police, courts & prison
Authoritative Regime (4)
- Elite rule
- Prevention of free speech & assembly
- Strong reliance on military power & physical coercion
- Citizens have few political powers or voting rights
Communist Regine (4)
- Single party
- Planned economy
- Official ideology (Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism)
- Leadership is selected by party not people
First Nations
In 1500, around 1-2 million people lived in Canada, political system of pre-contact Aboriginal societies were diverse, sophisticated & well -established
English-Canada (4)
- British victory in 7 Years War turns Quebec into a British Colony in 1763
- British appease French & Indigenous pop. which keeps them from joining American Revolution
- Royal Proclamation of 1763 and Indigenous land claims
- Loyalist immigrants and Constitution Act of 1791 (creates Upper and Lower Canada)
Responsible Goverment
Means that Government is responsible to the elected legislature rather than British Monarchy (evolved in 1790s & 1840s)
Lord Durham
Report and the Act of Union in 1840 (unifies Upper and Lower Canada, one legislative assembly that makes laws, assimilation of French culture)
Canadian Origins of Confederation (6)
- Desire for political, social & economic reform
- Charlottetown Conference, July 1864
- Quebec Conference, October 1864
- Provinces debate Confederation 1965
- London Resolutions, January 1867
- British North American Act, March 1867
John A. MacDonald
National Policy and building a railroad from Atlantic to Pacific
Rupert’s Land
Canada bought Rupert’s Land and all the people living there for 300,000 in 1869-70 (largest real-estate transaction in history)
National Policy (3)
- Government begins a treaty process to create a rail corridor
- The Numbered Treaties (1 to 11) promised food, aid, equipment, and “reserved” land for relocated Indigenous communities
- MacDonald used the Treaties to legitimize power and expansion
Colony to Nation (3)
- First World War (1914-18) reshapes Canada’s colonial status
- Statue of Westminster, 11 December 1931. (Granted Canada independence)
- Canada declares war separately from Britain on 10 September 1939
Women & Voting
Women are enfranchised in 1918. Quebec is last province to give women right to vote in 1940
Persons Case of 1927
- Supreme Court of Canada ruled that women were not “persons” under BNA Act
- The British government overruled it and changed the definition in 1929
Middle Class
Social group between upper and working class, includes affluent farmers, self-employed professionals, and small-business owners
New Middle Class
Social group of other salaried professionals, such as civil servants, teachers, nurses, and middle managers (80% of Canadians are Middle Class)
Working Class and Proletariat (3)
- Earn a living doing manual or routine work
- Resource exploitation, assembly lines, clerical, sales, service, and crafts and trades
- Proletariat does not typically own the means of production
Political Culture
The characteristic values, beliefs, and behaviours of a society’s members in regard to politics (importance of personal freedom, equality, social order & prestige)
Welfare State
System of programs that transfer money and services to Canadians to deal with issues, like poverty, homelessness, unemployment, immigration, aging, illness, injury, disability, children, and minorities
Welfare State (2)
- Welfare State and Social Democracy are linked
2. A lot of Canada’s social welfare laws were finally passed in the 1960s, but many provisions existed from the 1940s
Political Left
- Collectivism (public interests)
- Political Left = Economic Equality
- Extreme Left = Communism
Political Right
- Individualism (private interests)
- Freedom to Earn
- Extreme Right = Fascism
Political Spectrum
System of classifying different political positions
Left Parties
- NDP
2. Green Party
Right Party
- Conservatives
Political Centre
Liberals
Ideologies of the Left (6)
- Collectivism & social justice
- Social reform
- Social welfare
- Big government
- Social democracy
- More taxes, especially on the rich
Socialism
An ideology based on the collective or state ownership of the means of production and the belief in the state’s ability to provide social justice, redistribute wealth, and fix social problems
New Democratic Party
- Formed in 1961 when Co-operative commonwealth (CCF) merged with Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
- 3rd largest party, largest left-wing party
- Secular, pluralistic, social democratic, and social activism
Green Party
- Formed in 1983 at Carleton University
- Emerged from ongoing concerns about the environment and the belief that humans have a responsibility to protect and preserve nature
- Green economics, progressive social planning, responsible and accountable government
Ideologies of the Right (6)
- Social Stability
- Family Values
- Continuity
- Business & religious institutions
- Small government
- Less taxes, especially for the rich
Conservativism
An ideology based on the belief that traditions and social order are important and that gradual change is best
Conservative Party of Canada
- Conservative Party of Canada (1867-1942); Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1942-1993); Conservative Party of Canada (2003-Present)
- Also called Torries
- Lower taxes, small government, decentralized powers, socially conservative, and tough on crime
Liberalism (7)
- Inalienable rights
- Individualism & private property
- Constitutional protections
- Law & order
- Personal choice
- Medium government
- Fair taxes, rich pay more/poor pay less
Liberalism
An ideology based on the belief that the state must protect individual liberty, personal choice, and the right to private property
Liberal Party of Canada
- Origins are in reformism for 19th century
- 1840 it merged with the French Canadian liberal party, Parti Rouge
- Also called the Grits
- Universal health care, Canada Pension Plan, Canada Student Loans, Peacekeeping, multiculturalism, bilingualism, same-sex marriage, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Consititution
- Canada’s constitution was written not in one document, but evolved in many laws between 1867 and 1982
- Constitutions outline two sets of relationships: 1.Citizens and State 2. Distributions of functions and powers
Citizens and the State (3)
- State is empowered by Constitution to pass laws on the community’s behalf
- State is limited by the Constitution by identifying individual rights that cannot be infringed upon
- Citizens are expected to participate in the State and enhance the well-being of society
Constitution Branches (3)
- Legislative
- Executive
- Judiciary
Constitution Government (3)
- Federal
- Provincial
- Municipal
Federalism (Federal System)
A system of government in which there is a constitutional division of law-making powers between national and regional governments
Compact of Confederation (2)
- Confederation was an English and French agreement. Quebec has veto power
- Important for understanding origins of separatism
Contract of Confederation (3)
- Provinces give up certain powers to a new federal government. Negotiated agreement between regional governments
- Each province has veto powers
- More recent view of Confederation
Written Constitution (5)
- Set of laws written down, debated, and passed into law by Parliament
- Parliamentary Supremacy
- Enshrines rights, privileges, and power within society
- Creates legitimacy and authority
- Enforceable by the judicial system
Unwritten Constitution
- Refers to the customs, conventions, and traditions built into government practices
- Based on the idea of precedent
- Example: the BNA Act gave extensive powers to the Governor-General, but conventions strictly limit the exercise of that power
Internal Architecture (3)
- British Monarch is the Head of State
- British North America Act was passed by British Parliament (has no amending formula)
- Judicial system’s interpretation and settling of disputes under the BNA had to defer to British Privy Council. (Person’s Case)
Rewriting the Architecture (4)
- PM Pierre Trudeau “patriates” the British North America Act in 1982
- British Parliament passes “The Canada Act”
- Canadian Parliament passes “The Constitution Act” in 1982
- The Constitution Act changed Canada’s constitutional structure by entrenching the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and by creating an amending formula
Night of Long Knives
5 November 1981 Quebec rejects the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Quebec and the Constitution (3)
- Quebec does not ratify the Constitution Act of 1982; Charter of Rights and Freedoms is rejected
- Notwithstanding Clause added as safety valve for policymaking, but it gives legislatures power to take away the Charter’s protections (Section 33)
- Quebec uses Notwithstanding Clause to pass laws (1982-1985 every law was passed with Clause)
Clarity Act 2000
Federal government decides: how clear is the question?
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Fundamental rights
- Democratic rights
- Mobility rights
- Legal rights
- Equality rights
- Language rights
- Aboriginal rights
Inside Parliament
House of Commons
Branches of Parliament
- The Crown (Queen)
- Governor of General (her representative) - The Senate
- 105 Members (appointed) - House of Commons
- 338 members (elected)
House of Commons (3)
- Forum for elected reps or “MPs” (member or parliament) to debate laws
- Creates legitimacy & authority for gov.
- Supervises work of executive
Major Events
- Parliament MUST meet once a year (constitution)
- The budget-delivered by Minister of Finance to the House of Commons it identifies all spending & taxation plans for the gov.
Tabling of the Estimates
Documents that outline spending priorities for each department
Prorogation
Closing a session of Parliament (any un-passed legislation automatically “dies” at prorogation)
Dissolution
Proclaimed by the governor general at least once every 5 years
Life Cycle of Parliament
- MPs return to parliament after election
- Must meet once a year
- Speech from the throne
- Budget: spending/taxation plans
- Adjournment or recess breaks
- Tabling of the estimates: detailed spending plans
- Bill C16 (2006) fixed election dates at every 4 years
* Then returns to step 1
How a Bill Becomes Lie
- Bill is introduced in house in commons: first reading
- Main principles of bill debated in second reading vote takes place
- Bill is reviewed by committee changes are made at report stage
- After report stage vote bill goes to third reading for final vote
- If a bill survives it goes to senate for first reading
- Senate does a second reading bill goes to committee report
- Senate passes bill and governor general gives it royal assent
- Bill becomes law
Party Whip
Charged with ensuring party discipline within legislature
Party Discipline
Helps democracy function by ensuring that MPs vote according to a party policy
Caucus
Body of elected MPs belonging to a party meetings allow backbenchers to voice concerns
The Senate “Sober Second Thought” (4)
- Senators are appointed and not elected
- 105 seats in red chamber (24 from Ontario, Quebec, Western & Maritimes, plus 6 from New Found land, & 3 from Territories)
- Senate is supposed to provide a sober second thought or review process for legislature passed by house of commons
- Work can delay legislature for up to 180 days
The Executive
- A broad term that refers to the institutions, personal, behaviour of governmental power
- In practice the executive is in charge of implementing the law
- There is a “formal executive” and a “political executive”
Formal Executive (3)
- Crown, monarchy, & governor general
- Crown is the composite symbol of the institutions of the state
- Government functions are carried out in the name of the crown
Governor General
Queen’s representative in Canada & symbol of the state
Political Executive
- Formed by the prime minister & cabinet
- Prime minister appoints cabinet
- Political power is centralized in the executive & the the government bureaucracy is responsible to whoever is elected
Ministerial Responsibility
The obligation of a cabinet minister to explain & defend policies & actions carried out in her/his name
Cabinet or Privy Council
Privy council office supports the decision making process, strategic planning & policy formation
